The Great Rivalry

The Great Rivalry

The Parliamentary World

• Prestigious• Important• Fun

Shared Liberal Principles

• Political liberty• Economic liberty• National liberty

Shared Conservative Principles

• Liberals: reform should be slow• Conservatives: accept change that’s

occurred

Liberal Party Factions

• Whigs• Radicals• Peelites

Conservative Party Factions

• Anglican Church supporters• Traditional Tory squires• Former Liberal industrialists

Disraeli

• Born a Jew• Serious wit• Novelist

Dizzy as PM in 1874

• Pure Food and Drug Act• Slum Clearance Act• Consolidated Factory and Health Acts• “Tory Democracy”

Gladstone

• Scottish father• Began as Tory• Deeply religious• Extraordinary physical energy• Very long career

Gladstone’s Liberal Development

• Tariff reformer• Interest in national European liberty• Streamlines budget• Gradual belief in democracy

Midlothian Campaign